Thousands refuse evacuation despite Indonesia's volcano eruptions

Thousands of residents in eastern Indonesia have refused to evacuate after Mount Ibu erupted on Wednesday, spewing smoke and ash up to 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) into the sky.

Mount Ibu, located on Halmahera Island in North Maluku province, prompted the Indonesian Geological Agency to raise its alert level to the highest due to the eruption.

Local authorities called for the evacuation of 3,000 people across six villages, but as of Thursday, only one village had complied.

"So far, only one village has been evacuated, while people in the remaining five villages have refused to evacuate," said Irfan Idrus, a spokesperson for the local disaster management agency.

Despite the threat, many villagers expressed that they were accustomed to Mount Ibu’s frequent eruptions.

"We are already accustomed to the eruptions of Mount Ibu, and so far, there has been no impact on our village. That is why we do not want to be evacuated," said Milka Sehe, 43, from Todoke village.

Rista Tuyu, 32, from Tuguis village, added: "There is some fear and concern, but we are already used to the eruptions here."

Authorities continue to urge evacuation, as the volcano, one of Indonesia’s most active, has shown a marked increase in volcanic activity since June 2024. On Thursday, the eruptions persisted, with thick smoke rising 400 meters above the peak.

Mount Ibu’s eruptions have been frequent, with at least nine eruptions occurring in early January 2025 alone. Residents and tourists within a five to six-kilometer exclusion zone have been advised to avoid the area and wear face masks due to falling ash.

In the face of the ongoing eruptions, the government is working with local officials and community leaders to encourage evacuations to safety.

Indonesia, located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent volcanic and seismic activity. Last November, another Indonesian volcano, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, erupted, killing nine people.